VW Touareg V10 TDI - Tows Boeing 747!

[barryl85]

http://www.car.co.nz/newsevents.asp?articleid=13044

Anyone seen this? I was shocked when i seen it!

Cant believe that car is capable of doing that! Although I believe it has some modifications, i doubt a standard clutch could be capable of that!

 

[the Interceptor]

Dunsfold - that the Top Gear test track by the way.

Afaik, the Touareg has an automatic gearbox and therefor no clutch.

Regards
the Interceptor

 

[barryl85]

Dunsfold - that the Top Gear test track by the way.

Afaik, the Touareg has an automatic gearbox and therefor no clutch.

Regards
the Interceptor

Most automatic cars have a clutch for each gear!!!

Just because it has no clutch pedal - doesnt mean to say there is no clutch.

I am not a mechanic but im sure instead of a manual clutch it is a converter - torque converter? but then after each gear has individual clutch?

 

[TheCracker]

I always thought the V10 Tourag would be the ultimate towing car.

 

[Bram Turismo]

That's a good way to destroy the engine 👎

 

[Appie]

That's a good way to destroy the engine 👎

I doesn't have to. He doesnt toes it every it goes isnt it

 

[G.T]

Amazing towing ability!

I would have thought the main issue is keeping the car in one piece while towing it, the engine/transmission strain coming second...

I doesn't have to. He doesnt toes it every it goes isnt it

I'm sorry, but I don't understand a word you just said.

 

[Omnis]

I doesn't have to. He doesnt toes it every it goes isnt it

whawhawhawha?

 

[danda]

whats so good about that then, a single man can pull a 747, besides i'd rather have an overfinch than a toureg or cayenne anyday, their just chelsea tractors

 

[Jay]

This also tows a 747

 

[DQuaN]

Pretty amazing. Is there a vid anywhere?

 

[TheCracker]

whats so good about that then, a single man can pull a 747

Not from a standing start he could'nt.

 

[Diego440]

I doesn't have to. He doesnt toes it every it goes isnt it

Translation:

No. It doesn't have to [kill the engine]. The Touareg driver doesn't tow a 747 everywhere he/she goes, right?

 

[Bram Turismo]

I bet a '70's Fiatgri tractor could pull this as well!

 

[Dave A]

I tihnk this firmly puts the Toureg up there with the best towing vehicles publically available.

This also tows a 747

And your point being? The ratio's that runs at means it'll pull a lot but it's not capable of any speed worth mentioning.

 

[Vonie]

http://www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/1363/

The firm changed the axle ratio

That helps, still impressive, though.

 

[Poverty]

finally we have evidence to finally shutup pro-suv people that they dont need 400hp to tow a bloody 20ft boat.

 

[Tornado]

Except, um, pulling a big boat also introduces tongue weight. Which this stupid publicity stunt does not factor at all (I doubt very highly there is any downward pressure applied to the Volkswagen at all).
Powerful engine or not, the Touareg is limited by its chassis in how much it can pull in real life applications. This is not a real life application, and as such doesn't have all of the hardships of one.

 

[Keef]

So, as I understand it, manufacturers GVWRs and max tow ratings are complete nonsense. What is the Touareg's GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating--the most weight it's rated to support on its axles)? Or do they have a different weight rating system in Europe? My Automobile Magazine says the TDI is rated to tow 6,600 pounds. An '07 Ford F-350 Super Duty is rated to tow 18,800 pounds. Wut?

EDIT: As I read Toronado's post abot tongue weight, that force is factored into max tw ratings. The only downward force applied to the TDI's chassis from that rig is part of the weight of the yellow hook thing. By the way, they loaded the TDI with just under 9,500 lbs (!), which brought me to my conclusion that GVWRs are bullhonky. If my imaginary calculations are correct, I guess that the previously mentioned Ford could support quite a bit more than that TDI. Hey, let's go drop 15,000 lbs of stuff in the back of the Ford, then go tow an airplane!

 

[Tornado]

No. GVWR is the weight it is designed to carry internally, such as passengers, fluids and internal cargo.
GTWR, however (Gross Trailer Weight Rating) is the amount of weight the rear suspension can hold before collapse for towing. It is also known as the max tongue weight. That is why the TDI's is so much lower than the F350's, but the power ratings are similar.
The problem with this lovely PR shlock is that it ignores GTWR completely and instead just measures how much the engine and chassis can pull, but not how much can be actually used on, say, a trailer.

 

[Keef]

GVWR is the weight it is designed to carry internally, such as passengers, fluids and internal cargo.
GTWR, however (Gross Trailer Weight Rating) is the amount of weight the rear suspension can hold before collapse for towing. It is also known as the max tongue weight.

That makes more sense. I worded it all wrong, thanks for the input.

Anyway, this test does basically show off the torque of the TDI, which is prodigous. I wonder how tunable that 5.9 TT diesel is? I'm sure Banks could crank out 1500 lb-ft from the Ford's engine. Is the VW's engine strong enough to handle that?

 

[Tornado]

Anyway, this test does basically show off the torque of the TDI, which is prodigous. I wonder how tunable that 5.9 TT diesel is? I'm sure Banks could crank out 1500 lb-ft from the Ford's engine. Is the VW's engine strong enough to handle that?

The engine is a 5.0L, not a 5.9. And I'd imagine the Audi V12 diesel in the Q7 would take to modification easier than this would, but I doubt either are very apt to running very much past their normal tolerances because the current crop of TDI's aren't as overbuilt as their ancestors, and are nowhere near as overbuilt as diesels used in American vehicles.

 

[Keef]

You know what? I just now realized that I was looking at the Audi Q7 in my magazine. So, basically, everything I've said is rubbish. I've also realized that I know nothing about the VW, which is what we're talking about. The Audi has the 5.9, not the VW. The Audi makes the 738 lb-ft, not the VW. So I guess the Audi would haul a plane even better. Sorry for making mysel feel like and idiot. I'll just crawl back into my Rumble Strip quietly...

 

[Tornado]

You know what? I just now realized that I was looking at the Audi Q7 in my magazine. So, basically, everything I've said is rubbish. I've also realized that I know nothing about the VW, which is what we're talking about. The Audi has the 5.9, not the VW. The Audi makes the 738 lb-ft, not the VW. So I guess the Audi would haul a plane even better. Sorry for making mysel feel like and idiot. I'll just crawl back into my Rumble Strip quietly...

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

isnt the one at the top gear track a fake 747? i remember reading that it was only used for practicing fire drills and crash landing etc.
and also it wouldnt be that hard to tow it,once you get it moving.

 

[G.T]

isnt the one at the top gear track a fake 747? i remember reading that it was only used for practicing fire drills and crash landing etc.

Although an initial trial used an operational Boeing 747-400 weighing 190 tonnes, this aircraft was not available for this attempt. In its place, an ex-British Airways Boeing 747-200 weighing 155 tonnes was used. The aircraft, first flown in 1980 and retired last year retains its full complement of 500 seats, 11 toilets and complete landing gear, albeit without an operating braking system. The original engines were removed last year to make way for dummy items used in the filming of a recent motion picture. Despite this, the aircraft still weighs 155 tonnes.

Edit: I just found there's a video available:

http://www.whatcar.com/popups/video...ber/Touareg_Pulling_Power_512kws.wmv&vtype=WM

 

[neanderthal]

Except, um, pulling a big boat also introduces tongue weight. Which this stupid publicity stunt does not factor at all (I doubt very highly there is any downward pressure applied to the Volkswagen at all).
Powerful engine or not, the Touareg is limited by its chassis in how much it can pull in real life applications. This is not a real life application, and as such doesn't have all of the hardships of one.

so you're saying the 4.3 tons of metal weight they put in the car has no downward pressure when its in the touareg? 👎

one ton= 1000kilograms
1 kilogram = 2.2 lbs
4.3*1000*2.2= 9460lbs not including the weight of the driver, vehicle, and fluids.

The vehicle was a standard production Touareg fitted with a special towing adaptor to connect it with the aircraft towing link and loaded with 4.3 tonnes of metal ballast to bring its total weight to just over seven tonnes (7,030 kg) including the driver, an engineer from the technical department at the company’s headquarters in Germany.

moreover, other than changing the axle ratio (to something we dont know) the vehicle was standard.

The Touareg’s engine, self-levelling air suspension, wheels, tyres and structure were all standard. Changes to the outer body panels were made for photographic purposes, so that the vehicle was visually the same as the next generation Touareg which is due to be launched next year.

that thud should be the sound of you getting off your high horse in a rapid and unexpected manner. this is a hell of an achievement. period. even factoring in the changed gear ratios its an achievement simply beacuse they put 4.3 tons of metal in the car on its stock wheels, suspension and it survived. and then towed a 155 ton aircraft.

dont underestimate the capabilities of the VW truck. its got one of the stiffest chassis' around. together with its porsche stable mate.

whats the payload capacity for a one tonne ford, chevy or dodge? for thier SUVs? i bet its nowhere near 4.3 tons. even if its more than the indicated amount on the sticker.

quit the haterade.

 

[Rue]

155 tonnes! I was surprised that a Jumbo was that compartively light.

 

[Jay]

And your point being? The ratio's that runs at means it'll pull a lot but it's not capable of any speed worth mentioning.

I thought I made my point clear, that funny little cart also pulls 747. I never meantioned anything about speed.

Don't look so deaply into things like I was putting the Touareg down.


To be honest I am more impressed with the Touaregs active leveling suspension which still leveled the suspension correctly with over 4 tons on top of it.

155 tonnes! I was surprised that a Jumbo was that compartively light.

This 747 has dummy engines, no cargo, no fuel (and they hold a damn load of fuel, something around 380,000lb's full tank), so it weights well under the usual loaded 747's that take off from runways every day.

 

[Tornado]

so you're saying the 4.3 tons of metal weight they put in the car has no downward pressure when its in the touareg? 👎

Nope. Not at all. I'm saying that it doesn't have any weight placed squarely on the rear suspension alone. Like when you actually pull a trailer. Which this does not simulate. At all. And its tonnes. Not tons.

that thud should be the sound of you getting off your high horse in a rapid and unexpected manner. this is a hell of an achievement. period.

No, it really isn't. That thud should be the sound of you crashing into the reality wall, because I would go so far as to guarantee that one-ton American trucks and SUV's have been able to do this exact thing for at least two decades. They just didn't feel the need to attract the attention of people who fall for such PR bull.
Oh, look at me! My SUV can pull a Boeing 747! Yay. And the rear suspension may collapse if I towed a really big trailer or boat with it, but oh well.

even factoring in the changed gear ratios its an achievement simply beacuse they put 4.3 tons of metal in the car on its stock wheels, suspension and it survived. and then towed a 155 ton aircraft.

I didn't say anything regarding the ballast they added to the vehicle, because it is irrelavent (and may even have helped the Toaureg tow the airplane, not to mention how they could have distributed it equally across the vehicle, or even more frontward to cancel out any potential weight gains that the plane hitch may have added). Just like towing an airplane is irrelavent in any and all practical applications.

dont underestimate the capabilities of the VW truck. its got one of the stiffest chassis' around. together with its porsche stable mate.

I'm glad it has a stiff chassis. So does this:

Can it pull an airplane? Really, chassis stiffness (perhaps you meant rigidity?) has little to do with actual real life towing so much as chassis type does.

whats the payload capacity for a one tonne ford, chevy or dodge? for thier SUVs? i bet its nowhere near 4.3 tons. even if its more than the indicated amount on the sticker.

Again, I fail to see why you are centering on the payload capacity when it has nothing to do with pulling an airplane. In fact, it may have helped the pull occur by giving it traction.
And either way, your assertion over the VW's payload capacity over the trucks from the big three is mute, as the Touareg's payload is rated at a paltry 1000 pounds, or 1/6th (on average) the petrol versions (!) of the one-ton American trucks. That alone should tell you that the Touareg pales in comparison to a dedicated towing vehicle. In addition, these petrol trucks are also rated to tow twice as much at least when compared to the Touareg, with the F-450 Super Duty diesel being rated to tow over 3 times as much.
Hell, despite being 747 worthy, it gets its ass kicked by pretty much everything:

And maybe I'm just being mean, but when your payload ratings are exceeded by the worst SUV ever, a mid-size SUV with an inline-6, a van running a diesel with far less than half of the torque; and when your payload and towing capacities are exceeded by a compact truck which hasn't changed in nearly 10 years with 210 BHP, you may think VW would actually try to make the vehicle better instead of just doing stupid publicity stunts:




Also, before you (or Poverty, as well) come back into this thread spouting off random crap about how the Touareg isn't being treated fairly, keep in mind I am not attacking the car. I am attacking this stupid stunt that really isn't an accomplishment at all for many reasons, not the least of which being that it is irrelavent to any and all real life applications where there are still better things to use for tasks than the Touareg.